Our Attorneys

OB&S lawyers come from diverse backgrounds and experience to bring real-world solutions to complex problems. We have experience in state and federal courts throughout Louisiana and beyond. Acknowledged by our peers and clients as thoughtful, talented, and resourceful, OB&S lawyers pride themselves on building lasting relationships with clients.

Marta-Ann Schnabel is a past president of both the New Orleans Bar Association and the Louisiana State Bar Association and is poised to take the reins as President of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel in June 2014. She has been recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the Louisiana’s Top 25 Women Litigators.

Kevin O’Bryon is a seasoned litigator whose success has been recognized both by Super Lawyers and an AV rating in Martindale. He advises corporate and insurance clients on business and litigation matters. A past president of the New Orleans Association of Defense Counsel, he is a frequent lecturer on insurance coverage, professional malpractice, and toxic tort issues. He is the chair of the LSBA Legal Malpractice Insurance Committee.

Jean Melançon became of counsel to O'Bryon & Schnabel in July of 2012, bringing his vast experience in maritime and tort litigation, as well as real property development law to the firm. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association and the Maritime Law Association of the United States.

Kathleen E. Simon joined O’Bryon & Schnabel in October of 2015 and brings to the firm almost 30 years of experience in litigation practice in the areas of personal injury, casualty, and insurance coverage defense, including arson and fraud claims; pre-suit evaluations, negotiations, medical fraud and prescription drug issues. Her knowledge of the Louisiana attorney discipline system and ethics issues is also extensive.

Janell M. McFarland-Forges joined our law firm in 2018, and her work focuses on litigating matters in the areas of casualty and personal injury, products liability, premises liability, and commercial litigation. With experience in handling matters from their inception through the appellate process, her focus is on assessing and recommending the best and most practical approach to achieve the client’s desired result.

After twenty eight years of representing the State of Louisiana, Sherry Watters returned to private practice in 2013 and joined OB&S. Before and during her state service, she practiced in criminal, civil and juvenile courts, with a particular emphasis in appellate practice.

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